Method of attaching outsoles



1965 J. B. NADLER 3,216,033

METHOD OF ATTACHING OUTSOLES Filed May 19, 1964 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH B. NADLER If /5 27 28 BY '7 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,216,033 METHOD OF ATTACHING OUTSOLES Joseph B. Nadler, Rte. 1, Box 150, ()cala, Fla. Filed May 19, 1964, Ser. No. 368,561 1 Claim. (Cl. 12-142 This invention relates generally to shoe constructions and methods of shoe manufacture, and is especially concerned with a shoe construction of the molded-outsole type.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a shoe construction and method of manufacture wherein a molded outsole is more quickly, easily and economically secured fast to the shoe upper and insole, and wherein said securement is more durable and reliable than conventional constructions.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a unique shoe construction and method of manufacture having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph, wherein the resultant shoe construction presents the appearance of relatively expensive, through-stitching of the outsole to the upper.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shoe construction of the type described, which eliminates the need for stitching of the outsole to the upper, and affords positive securement therebetween in addition to or without the use of adhesives, stitching or stapling.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claim.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective cross-sectional view showing a shoe constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 22 of FIGUREl.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a shoe being constructed in accordance with the method of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view in perspective, showing the insole and upper prior to the molding thereto of the outsole.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a shoe upper is generally designated and may have its lower-edge margins turned inward, as at 11. Formed in the lower-edge margin 11 of shoe upper 10 are a plurality of through apertures 12. The apertures 12 are spaced from each other and arranged in a row extending along the inturned margins 11.

Disposed internally within the upper 10 and having its peripheral margin seated on the inturned margins 11 is an insole 13. The insole 13 is configured for conforming engagement within the upper 10 and overlies the inturned lower margins 11, extending across the space therebetween. Extending about the marignal portion of insole 13, formed on the upper surface thereof, is a groove or channel 14. The groove 14 is configured and arranged for superposition over the margin apertures 12.

Formed in the insole 13, arranged in a row about the margin thereof, is a series of through apertures 15. The through apertures 15 are located for respective alignment with the through apertures 12 of the nether margin 11. Further, the insole apertures 15 are located to open upwardly into spaced regions of the groove or channel 14. Thus, communication exists through each margin aperture 3,216,033 Patented Nov. 9, 1965 ice 12 and its aligned insole aperture 15 into the groove 14. Viewed otherwise, the groove 14 may be considered as extending through or across the upper end of each aperture 15 and opening into the latter.

In facing engagement with the underside of the upper margins 11 and the insole 13 extending between the margins is an outsole 20. The outsole is advantageously molded by any suitable moldable material, such as rubber, latex or plastic. In the injection molding operation, integral extensions of the outsole 20 pass upward through each aligned pair of apertures 12 and 15, as at 21, and tend to extend into the communicating channels 14. Thus, the extensions 21 are each provided on its upper end with an enlarged head 22 formed integral with the respective extension. The heads 22 are on the upper or inner side of insole 13, in engagement therewith, and combine with their respective extensions to define fasteners firmly securing the insole 13, and margins 11 to the outsole 20.

It will also be observed that the enlarged heads 22 on extensions 21 are each seated in a portion of the groove or channel 14 adjacent to its aligned receiving apertures 12 and 15. The heads 22 are conformably engaged in the groove 14, and thus extend along and within the groove. In practice, the heads 22 may terminate short of each other, so as to be spaced apart, and present the appearance of stitches through the insole 13.

It will now be appreciated that the headed fasteners 21, 22 are arranged to form a line of securement extending about the margin of outsole 20 to positively secure the latter fast to the margins 11 of upper 10 and the insole 13. Further, ordinary wear of the outsole will not adversely affect this positive securement.

In the method of the instant invention, see FIGURE 3, the upper 10 and insole 13 may be drawn over a last 25 or a suitable backing member, advantageously of metal, which, together with the upper 10 and insole 13, may be properly located with respect to a mold 26 for molding of the outsole 20. This is illustrated in FIGURE 3, wherein it will be appreciated that molding material may be injected through passageway 27 into the mold cavity 28 and against the undersurfaces of upper margins 11 and insole 13 for application thereto. In addition, the heat and pressure of the moldable material is such as to cause passage thereof through aligned apertures 12 and 15 to form extensions 21 and into groove or channel 14 to form heads 22. The backing mold member or last 25 seats the upper surface of insole 13 to cover and overlie the groove 14 and constrain the fluent molding material to movement into the groove. Upon solidification of the molding material, the mold 26 and backing member 25 are removed from the product.

While in the drawing there has been shown a continuous channel 14, it will be understood that the path for molded material which communicates with each of the openings 12 and 15, may be discontinuous and independently surround each of said openings, so long as there is provided at the top of each opening 15 an enlarged space communicating with the opening to provide room for the flow of the fluent molding material to form an enlarged head.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a shoe construction and method of manufacture which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In the art of shoe manufacture, the method of molding an outsole on the lower-edge margin of an upper and an insole overlying said margin, which comprises: forming a plurality of depressions on the upper surface of said insole, forming a plurality of passageways through overlying portions of said margin and insole and each opening into a corresponding depression, locating a backing member on the upper surface of said insole covering said depressions, applying an outsole material in fluent condition against the underside of said margin and insole under sufiicient pressure to flow through said passageways into said depressions against said backing member, and solidifying said outsole material, to define an integral headed fastener of the material in said passageways and depressions, said depressions being of elongate configuration,

whereby the outsole material entering said depressions assumes an elongate configuration to present the appearance of a stitch.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/16 Burnham 3614 12/36 Harrington 3622 3/57 Keen et a1. 1214 X 4/57 Rollman et a1 12--142 7/57 Crowell et a1. 12142 3/62 Binder et a1. 3614 1/63 Binder et a1. 3614 FOREIGN PATENTS 8/59 France.

11/ 61 Great Britain.

8/53 Italy.

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner. 

